I’ve been struggling with stuttering, lag, and short freezes in MSFS2024 for quite some time now. While my FPS is generally stable, the sim does not feel smooth at all. The issue is especially noticeable when:
Switching views (inside or outside the cockpit)
Moving the camera around in the cockpit
Even flying straight, without touching the controls
Interestingly, this seems to happen mostly in the air. On the ground, even at large airports, the issue is either not present or much less noticeable.
What I’ve Tried So Far
I previously contacted MSFS support, and they suggested a few solutions, which I have already tested:
Set Terrain Pre-Caching to “Ultra” → No improvement Disable Rolling Cache → Not possible in MSFS2024 (I always disabled it in MSFS2020) Updated to latest graphics drivers → No improvement (also tested older versions) Switched to Sim Update 1 Beta → No noticeable change Disabled all third-party add-ons (GSX, Navigraph, etc.) → No effect Tested Auto FPS → Still experiencing the same stutters and freezes
System Specs
CPU: [Ryzen 9 7950X3D]
GPU: [RTX 4090]
**GPU driver [572.42]
RAM: [64GB DDR5]
Sim Installed on: [NVMe]
Internet Speed: [1GB]
Additional Observations
The stutters and freezes can last from a fraction of a second up to a full second
Watching streamers with similar hardware running MSFS2024 smoothly makes me wonder what I’m missing
I still have MSFS2020 installed, and everything runs buttery smooth there
It’s frustrating to the point where I now fly exclusively in MSFS2020, as MSFS2024 just doesn’t feel fluid
Questions & Help Needed
Is anyone else experiencing similar issues?
Any additional tweaks or settings I should try?
Could this be related to a specific Windows setting, background process, or driver conflict?
I’m open to any suggestions and would really appreciate help from both the community and Asobo/Microsoft.
First, check your system BIOS to make sure you have EXPO (or XMP if your motherboard RAM doesn’t give you an EXPO option) is enabled.
Update your BIOS, then update your Chipset Driver package (both are found in the support section of your motherboard’s website.)
My 7950X3D benefits greatly from Process Lasso. In fact, I think it’s required for this dual-chiplet design (unless you want to change affinities and priorities in the registry…)
Here’s a video that changed my sim experience drastically for the better.
Other things I do:
Ultimate Power Plan
Windows Game Mode OFF
RBAR enabled
HPET (High Precision Event Time) disabled in Device Manager, replaced by ISLC (Intelligent Standby List Cleaner.)
You will see arguments for and against all these things. All I know is that my system (3090 Ti) is butter smooth, with good FPS/Latency.
It seems like this is the same issue as Audio Stutters In Menu / Globe And On Ground / During Flight - #257 by O5BEASTMODE76
Because I have the same issues with my FS24. I get these micro freezes during flight and the sound is crackling. This happens to me since my Windows updated to 24H2 It seems like the only option to avoid this issue is going back to Windows11 23H2.
Game window will randomly lose rendering focus while on heavy load (for instance sometimes during new scenery loading). You can notice this error as Windows mouse pointer appears in game and stays on top of it. I noticed this because I configured my Windows pointer to use black color on purpose, while game pointer is white. That way I can quickly detect when game is on the background in terms of rendering because game pointer disappears after some seconds in case you don´t use it, while Windows pointer persists.
In addition to this the fps numbers are not stable at all, despite being on a high fps scenario as you described. In my opinion there´s something wrong with those two factors as no game should lose rendering focus unless you explicitily clicked outside main game window on purpose or send game window to the background manually.
Regarding the microfreezes they appear to be linked to objects loading as main thread and manipulators thread display big spikes when that happens, followed by a short and sudden fps decrease. After that event is when you can find the mouse pointer issue. Mouse pointer issue is not reproduced when fps are stable and rendering is smooth.
The only way to restore the rendering focus (the mouse pointer issue) is to click again anywhere on game window, for example on the windshield or an instrument. This will bring smooth fps for a while until issue appears again.
It seems there´s something broken here. Maybe it´s related to Windows 24H2 but I never saw such behaviour in any other game, neither before nor after having 24H2 installed, so I guess game code itself is also involved.
I want to give you huge thanks for your suggestions. I’ve been struggling a lot with constant stuttering in MSFS 2024 specially in VR, and specially after SU1 beta with DLSS4. I followed all your suggestions, I don’t know what worked in the end (either BIOS update, chipset driver update or disabling HPET), but my stutters are all magically gone! I tried so many things in the last few weeks and this is what worked in the end, so thank you!
Set Terrain Pre-Caching to “Ultra” → No improvement
